A belt conveyor on rails? - Yes indeed!

thyssenkrupp Rail-Running Conveyor™

thyssenkrupp Mining Technologies is launching a new & sustainble technology in bulk materials conveying that combines the efficiency of rail transport with the continuous nature of belt conveying.

Rail-Running Conveyor TM  systems promise a revolution in overland, steep and pipe conveying. The technology builds on the advantages of belt conveyors while overcoming many of the constraints inherent to traditional designs.

Rail-Running Conveyor™ - efficient and cost-effective

Rail-Running Conveyor™ - efficient and cost-effective

Developed by the University of Newcastle and thyssenkrupp, patented internationally, and exclusively licensed to thyssenkrupp in 99% of countries:

Rail-Running Conveyors from thyssenkrupp overcome many of the inherent maintenance, belt speed and curvability limitations of conventional trough and pipe conveyors. At the head and tail ends of the conveyor, the configuration is the same as for a conventional conveyor. But between the head and tail, the belt is carried on light wheeled carts. A host of idler-related maintenance problems are eliminated thanks to this new way of carrying the belt.

The belt remains the tension member, with the carts carried along by their interface with the belt.  The wheel-on-rail transport mode dramatically lowers friction and therefore belt tension, allowing for lighter belts, smaller drives, and much tighter vertical and horizontal curves. Because the wheeled carts circulate past the head and tail ends of the conveyor, automated inspection eliminates the need for daily inspections along the length of the conveyor.

thyssenkrupp is now welcoming partnerships with innovation-minded companies for suitable projects implementing either the trough or pipe-conveyor versions. Substantial R&D tax credits may be available to companies with Australian operations.

thyssenkrupp Rail Running Conveyor™ - Your benefits

CAPEX roughly 20% to 50% lower than that for conventional trough conveyor
Pipe conveyors configurations that can haul material for tens of kilometers in a single flight, at about 15% of the energy and tension demand of existing pipe conveyors
For long overland conveyors, energy from one half to one eighth of conventional, depending mainly on elevation change and coldest operating temperatures
Far fewer transfer points, because very tight curves and much longer runs become possible
Elimination of almost all the idler-related maintenance problems on conventional conveyors

Ready for sustainable conveyor transformation?

Ready for sustainable conveyor transformation?

Core Applications

  • carrying bulk materials from mine to plant, across the plant, or from the plant onwards

  • in remote areas and challenging terrain

  • where temperatures sometimes fall well below freezing